Tile.



J. FREUND.

TILE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30. 1909.

Patented Deo. 20, 1910.

LM Lara? NETE@ STATES PATENT FFCE.

JOSEPH FREUND, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

TILE.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH FREUND, of St. Louis, Missouri, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Tiles, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is aplan view of my improved tile partly broken away; and Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal section of the same.

My invention relates to that class of tiles which contain plates ofglass or translucent material.

The object. of the invention is to prevent cracking and breaking of suchtiles owing to unequal expansion and contraction of the glass and tilematerial, and also to provide a simple, cheap and eifectiveconstruction.

In the drawings, 2 represents the tile, which may be of clay or anysuitable material, and which is preferably formed about a reinforcingfabric 3 of expanded metal, wire mesh or similar material. The centralportion of the tile is left open, and is preferably thicker than itsouter portion, as shown at 4C, this thickened portion preferablycontaining metal strengthening rods. l have shown two series of theserods, the outer ones 5 are preferably straight and extend substantiallyparallel with the edges of the opening. The inner set of wires (i arepreferably bent around the corners of the opening; both sets beingembedded in the tile material. Around the opening the tile is recessedto form a ledge, this ledge preferably being of greater dimensions thanthe sheet of glass to be inserted. The glass, which may be wire glass,as shown at 7, is laid on the ledge, and is secured within the openingby surrounding cement or holdingl material S, which is preferablysomewhatelastic, to allow expansion and contraction. I have shown theJtile as provided with a raised channel or rib portion 9 in one endportion thereof, this also containing expanded metal or reinforcingmesh; but the shape and size Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led August 30, 1909.

atented Dec. 20, 1910.

Serial No. 515,223.

of the tile is not material in my broad invention.

The advantages of my invention result from the use of the reinforcingwires or rods, and from the particular manner of securing the glass.

Changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts withoutdeparting from my invention.

l claim l. As a new article of manufacture, a tile having an openingtherein, a reinforcing` bead surrounding said opening, a plate oftranslucent material secured therein, angular strengthening rods orwires in the tile adjacent to the opening for the translucent plate,each of said wires being adjacent to two sides of the opening;substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a tile having an opening, a plate oftranslucent material secured therein, angular strengthening rods orwires in the tile adjacent to the opening for the translucent plate,each of said rods being adjacent to two sides of the opening, and asecond set of strengthening rods adjacent to the first set of rods, eachof the last set of rods overlapping the ends of two o-f the other rods;substantially as described.

3. A roofing tile having an opening therein, a reinforcing beadsurrounding said opening, a plate of translucent material securedtherein, angular strengthening rods or wires in the tile, the ends ofeach of said rods being adjacent to two sides of the opening, and asecond set of strengthening rods, each of said rods of the second setlying adjacent to one side of the opening, and overlapping the ends oftwo of the irst set o-f rods; substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH FREUND.

Witnesses A. CRUMP, C. A.. GAPEN.

